Of more concern are injuries to strong safety Brian Lindsay and defensive linemen Ryan Gardner and Ben Kopacka. Lindsay suffered a broken collarbone and probably is lost for the season while Gardner (groin) and Kopacka (knee) were termed by Calhoun as being “lost for a while.”

There could be some adjustments in plans during the week, but Calhoun initially said junior P.J. Adeji-Paul and senior Bradley Connor would move into the starting lineup. The loss of three players on defense, Lindsay and Gardner as starters, comes as the Falcons face a four-game span that starts Saturday night at San Diego State and continues against nationally ranked TCU and Utah and then a battle with Army for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

“We still have enough capable players to have a competitive team,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun said his fourth season at Air Force has been the most challenging of his tenure.

“A service academy team never has played a schedule like this,” said Calhoun, in reference to the upcoming Mountain West schedule and a nonconference schedule that included Oklahoma and Navy with Army on the horizon.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill had touchdowns receiving and on a punt return, Kansas City’s defense made life miserable for Oakland quarterback Derek Carr, and the Chiefs beat the Raiders 21-13 on a frigid Thursday night to take control of the AFC West. Charcandrick West also had a touchdown run for the Chiefs (10-3). They moved into a first-place...